InSinC the Sisters in Crime quarterly September 2020
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inSinC
the Sisters in Crime quarterly
September 2020
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 1
Mission Statement
Promote the ongoing advancement,
recognition, and professional development
of women crime writers.
inSinC
The Sisters in Crime Quarterly • September 2020
Board Members
Lori Rader-Day, President inSinc is the official publication of Sisters in
S.G. Wong, Vice President
Crime International and is published four
Faye Snowden, Secretary
Jacki York, Treasurer times a year. One-year dues are $50 for pro-
Tracee de Hahn, Membership & fessional US and Canada writers and $40 for
Development Liaison non professionals; lifetime, $500 and $400.
Kellye Garrett, Member at Large Address and all other changes can be made
Stephanie Gayle, Grants/ACA Coordinator by members at our website.
Debra H. Goldstein, Monitoring Chair
Edwin Hill, Education Liaison Information in inSinC is submitted or
Vanessa Lillie, Publicity Chair reprinted from sources listed in each
Shari Randall, Library Liaison article. Where required, permission to
Barb Ross, Web Liaison reprint has been granted and noted. SinC
Alec Peche, Chapter Liaison
does not investigate each submission inde-
Sherry Harris, Immediate Past President
Next Wave Group pendently and articles in no way constitute
550M Ritchie Hwy #271 an endorsement of products or services
833.492.7463 • 410.544.4640 Fax offered. No material may be reprinted
©2019 Sisters in Crime International without written permission from Sisters in
inSinC Crime; contact Molly Weston.
Molly Weston, Editor Most articles for inSinC are submitted by
Margie Bunting, Proofreader SinC members. If you are interested in writ-
Priscilla Gruenewald, Proofreader
ing an article (or a series), check the SinC
Merrilee Robsons, Proofreader
website for guidelines.
Marisa Young, Proofreader
Presidents Sisters in Crime
Sara Paretsky 1987—88 Barbara Burnett Smith 1999—00 Marcia Talley 2009—10
Nancy Pickard 1988—89 Claire Carmichael McNab 2000—01 Cathy Pickens 2010—11
Susan Dunlap 1989–90
Eve K. Sandstrom 2001—02 Frankie Bailey 2011—12
Margaret Maron 1990–91
Kate Flora 2002—03 Hank Phillippi Ryan 2012—13
Carolyn G. Hart 1991—92
P. M. Carlson 1992—93 Kate Grilley 2003—04 Laura DiSilverio 2013—14
Linda Grant 1993—94 Patricia Sprinkle 2004—05 Catriona McPherson 2014—15
Barbara D’Amato 1994—95
Libby Hellmann 2005—06 Leslie Budewitz 2015—16
Elaine Raco Chase 1995—96
Rochelle Krich 2006—07 Diane Vallere 2016—17
Annette Meyers 1996–97
Sue Henry 1997—98 Roberta Isleib 2007—08 Kendel Lynn 2017—18
Medora Sale 1998—99 Judy Clemens 2008—09 Sherry Harris 2018—19
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 2
Table of Contents
From Molly .........................................3
from Molly
W
hen I was a child, my grandpa
From Lori Rader-Day...........................4
spent summers with us. He
SinC into Great Writing.......................5 was a wonderful companion
for a young child — an abso-
Board Slate..........................................6 lute treasure trove of stories, which he called tales. And he
NaNaWriMo knew how to build anticipation. “Tell me a tale,” I’d beg as
we sat on the front porch swing. “Aw-w, dogs have tails.” He’d
Doreen O’Skea................................9 answer. “Well, tell me a story,” I’d counter. “You’re not sup-
posed to tell stories,” he’d reply evenly. After several rounds of
From an Editor — Elevator Pitches
my pleadings and excuses, he would finally begin with “Once
Kerry Cathers...............................12 upon a time …” Oddly enough I don’t remember any of his
tales, just the process.
Library Liaison
Our family didn’t have a TV until I was in first grade, but
Shari Randall................................15
we did have a big brown Bakelite radio. Daddy listened to
We Love Libraries sports, I listened to kids programs, Mother didn’t really listen
at all, but Saturday nights were for Grandpa. He always
Susan Hammerman......................16 tuned in to what Mother referred to as “Great Buckets of
Education — Learn During Lockdown Blood.” As soon as that organ sounded the first ominous
chords, she would hustle me outside where we’d sit on the
Lori Rader-Day.............................18 back steps where she’d tell me “about when you were a little
girl” and how to whistle between two blades of grass.
Move Your Writing to New Levels
Allison Baxter...............................19 I suspect that wondering about the forbidden fruit in those
“buckets of blood” planted the seeds for my great love of
What I Love about Writing Fiction mysteries. As soon as I was able to read for pleasure and
Building a World found mysteries in our school library, I was hooked for life.
Connie Berry.................................21 I never dreamed that the stories in those buckets and the
sinister organ music would lead to my TBR stacks overflow-
Counseling Cops
ing with terrific mysteries — suspense, private eye, police
Ellen Kirschman, PhD...................23 procedurals, and cozies set in countries all over the world.
How grateful I am for the mystery community and for my
The Truth Behind Fictional Crime grandpa’s stimulating my curiosity about what was in all
Kristen Houghton........................25 those buckets!
Awards & Recognitions Till next time …
Gay Kinman..................................27
Fabulous Forewomen
.S. SinC National sent a question to mem-
P
Susan Rowland, PhD....................29 bers asking about your favorite writing tools.
The response was nearly overwhelming! We’ll
Chapter News ...................................32
begin showing them in this issue — look for
Virtual Chapter Meetings the email icon.
By the way, the request has ended.
Lori Rader-Day.............................33
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 3
from Lori
Dear Siblings,
Last week I got an email asking if I would speak to an arts camp for teens about writing a mystery pod-
cast. I have never written a podcast script. I don’t write for teens. I don’t have kids. I like other people’s
kids, but …not enough to hang out with them on Zoom, y’know?
This is where I might have found another taker, someone who writes for that age group — except the
talk was very short notice, only half an hour, online. I would have had to spend longer than a half hour
tracking down another speaker for them. Fine. I said yes.
I didn’t have any talk that was only 30 minutes, but I pulled together a few pieces that added up to some basic concepts
to consider, PDF-ed a handout to leave behind, put on my Zoom shirt (it has lemons on it), and … had a great time.
Was there any doubt? I love talking with other writers, don’t you? But maybe I was a little scared that all my references
would be too old, that I would be revealed as just another dorky adult, a Facebook Karen among youthful, techno-savvy
users of — I can’t even name a social media app here, as it will be outdated by the time this publishes. But here’s the thing: I
am a dorky adult, and I used to be a dorky teen, too, one who would have loved to write a mystery podcast, if such a thing
had existed. Teenage-me would have been geeked to meet a writer and talk shop, to know that a writer cared enough about
my writing to spend a little time encouraging me.
I gained several things from doing this session. First, I now have a 30-minute talk about mystery elements in case I ever
need one again. (Don’t ask. The answer is no.) Also, putting together a primer is a great way to remind yourself of some
of the ways to play with story elements and reader expectations. But more than that, I got a glimpse of the future of
mystery and, if we’re lucky, of Sisters in Crime. These young people were serious, silly, thoughtful, smart, big readers, and
eager to participate in this thing we have.
This thing we have, though — it’s not ours. We are only stewards of it. Sisters in Crime may seem like part of the firma-
ment of the mystery community, but it’s only 30-plus years old and, as we’re seeing right now in our community and out
in the world, change is possible, unavoidable, sometimes swift.
In 2019 (doesn’t that feel like a long time ago now?) I got to help celebrate Sara Paretsky as she received the Fuller Award
from the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. I spoke for all SinC members when I thanked Sara for the work she had started.
Did she hope to break down misogyny in publishing and the patriarchy worldwide on her own watch? In the first year?
She did. She’s an ambitious one, that Sara. But it is no failure that she didn’t. We continue the work. Sara was a steward,
and now? We are.
Sisters in Crime continues to exist because volunteers put in the time to make sure it does. Some (ahem) put in a great
deal of time, but only because it’s important, not just professionally, not just personally. The future of Sisters in Crime is
being written — and secured — by what we do now, all of us: the people we invite in, how we make them feel welcome
and safe, how we support them and their careers. That work isn’t only for the board, but is also an opportunity for local
chapters and their boards, for all members.
Sisters in Crime is more than a group of writers and readers. Our founding, in protest for equality, means that we are
steward-ing something beyond our own careers. We have to see the bigger picture. But if we do it right, we help make
sure there are mystery writers, mystery readers, and mystery books way out into a future that, right now, we might be
struggling to imagine. But I assure you: it’s out there, and this week, the future is writing a podcast.
Lori
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 4
ONLINE!
SinC into
Great Writing
G–o–e–s
Creating Authentic Characters
October 3, 2020 • 12:00 pm–3:45 pm EDT • Crowdcast Webinar
S
inC into Great Writing, an annual Sisters in Crime K. Tempest Bradford
tradition, moves online with a special event on is a science fiction and
creating authentic characters. Edgar Award-winning fantasy writer, writing
authors Walter Mosley and Lou Berney discuss instructor, media critic,
their methods and best advice for characters your readers reviewer, and podcaster.
will believe and follow anywhere. Special guest K. Tem- Her short fiction has
pest Bradford leads a workshop on representing characters appeared in multiple
whose gender, sexual orientation, racial heritage, or other anthologies and maga-
aspect of identity may be very different from your own. zines including Strange Horizons, PodCastle, Sunspot
Jungle, In the Shadow of the Towers, and many more.
A special SinC presentation will wrap up the event.
She’s the host of ORIGINality, a podcast about
the roots of creative genius, and contributes to
several more. Her media criticism and reviews can
Lou Berney is the author of November be found on NPR, io9, and in books about Time
Road (a Washington Post Best Book of Lords. When not writing, she teaches classes on
2018 and Anthony Award winner), The writing inclusive fiction through LitReactor and
Long and Faraway Gone (winner of the Writing the Other.
Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Macavity, and
ALA awards), Whiplash River, and Gut-
Walter Mosley is one of the
shot Straight, all from William Morrow.
most versatile and admired
He’s also written a collection of stories,
writers in America today. He
The Road to Bobby Joe, and his short
is the author of more than 43
fiction has appeared in publications critically acclaimed books,
such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize including the major bestselling
anthology. He teaches in the MFA program at Oklahoma mystery series featuring Easy
City University. He is a member of Sisters in Crime. Rawlins. His work has been
translated into 23 languages
and includes literary fiction,
science fiction, political monographs, and a young
To Register … adult novel. His short fiction has been widely
published, and his nonfiction has appeared in The
Sign in to the SinC website. At Crowdcast fill in
New York Times Magazine and The Nation, among
your name and email address. Be sure to click
other publications. He is the winner of numerous
the button that says “Save My Spot.” Until you awards, including an O. Henry Award, a Grammy
reserve your place in the webinar, you will not and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
be officially registered. He lives in New York and is a member of Sisters in
Crime.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 5
2020–21 Board Slate
W
e welcome the 2020-21 slate for our Secretary
Board of Directors and bid a grateful Faye Snowden
farewell to Debra Goldstein, who led Faye is the author of four mys-
the Monitoring Project for the board teries including the latest, A
for 5 full years, and Chris Goff, who got our webi- Killing Fire. She has published
nars program off the ground. short stories and poems in var-
ious literary journals and small
presses. Though writing is her
President
first love, Faye has been in the
S.G. Wong
information technology industry
Sandra publishes as an indie
25+ years, serving in both highly
author as well as with tradi-
technical and leadership roles throughout her career.
tional publishers; is creator
Faye works and writes from her home in Northern
of the crime/speculative Lola
California.
Starke novels and Crescent
City short stories; and Treasurer/Authors Coalition
also writes contemporary Representative
suspense. An Arthur Ellis Jacki York
Awards finalist and Whistler Jacki York is a CPA with a back-
Independent Book Awards nominee, as well as a ground in auditing nonprofits.
mentor, speaker, and a founding board member She has completed and reviewed
of SinC-Canada West, she is privileged to work in 990s in professional and vol-
service of an organization dedicated to equity and unteer capacities, is a certified
community. internal auditor (CIA), and a
certified fraud examiner (CFE).
She is a member of the Delaware
Vice-President Valley Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Guppies
Stephanie Gayle Chapter.
Stephanie is the author of the
Thomas Lynch mystery series, Grants and Awards Coordinator
which starts with Idyll Threats. V.M. (Valerie) Burns
A member of Sisters in Crime Valerie is the author of three mystery
since 2014, she’s delighted series: the Agatha Award-nominated
to be part of an organiza- Mystery Bookshop series, the Dog
tion devoted to equality. She Club series, and the RJ Franklin
co-created the Boston reading mystery series. She is a member of
series Craft on Draft and served as president of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of
Grub Street’s Novel Incubator Alumni group. A America, Dog Writers Association
graduate of Smith College, Stephanie works at of America, International Thriller
MIT doing finance stuff for “people too smart to Writers, and a member of the East Tennessee chap-
do basic math.” ter of Sisters in Crime. She was born and raised in
northwestern Indiana, but currently resides in Eastern
Tennessee with her three poodles.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 6
Monitoring Project Liaison/
Membership Development Authors Coalition
Liaison Representative
Tracee de Hahn Cynthia Kuhn
Tracee de Hahn is the author of Cynthia Kuhn is an English
Swiss Vendetta and A Well-Timed professor and author of the Lila
Murder, both set in Switzerland. Maclean Academic Mysteries:
Her work is inspired by her The Semester of Our Discontent,
background in architecture and The Art of Vanishing, The Spirit
history and her years living over- in Question, The Subject of
seas. She is also a member of Mystery Writers of Malice, and The Study of Secrets. Honors for the
America and International Thriller Writers. series include an Agatha Award, William F. Deeck-
Malice Domestic Grant, and Lefty Award nomi-
nations. She lives in Denver with her family and is
Member at Large past president of Sisters in Crime-Colorado.
Kellye Garrett
Kellye’s debut, Hollywood
Homicide, won the Anthony, Publicity Liaison
Agatha, and Lefty awards for Vanessa Lillie
best first novel, and her sec- Vanessa is the Amazon best-sell-
ond, Hollywood Ending, was ing author of Little Voices,
featured on the Today show which received starred reviews
and nominated for Anthony in Publishers Weekly, Library
and Lefty awards. Kellye Journal and was among the Best
spent eight years working Debuts 2019 by Bolo Books.
in Hollywood, including a stint writing for Cold For the Best, releases September
Case. She is the co-founder of Crime Writers of 8th, and she’s currently working
Color and is working on an #ownvoices domestic on her third novel, which is set
suspense. in rural Oklahoma where she’s from. She now lives
in Providence RI with her husband and sloth-
obsessed son.
Education Liaison
Edwin Hill
Edwin’s novels include Watch
Chapter Liaison, Alec Peche
Her, The Missing Ones, and
Alec Peche is the author of
Little Comfort. He has been
14 books and one novella in
nominated for Edgar and
the Jill Quint, MD, Forensic
Agatha Awards, featured in
Pathologist series and the
Us Magazine, received starred
Damian Green series, about a
reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library
modern-day MacGyver. Both
Journal, and was recognized as one of “Six Crime
series are soft-boiled myster-
Writers to Watch” in Mystery Scene magazine. He
ies. Alec lives in Northern
lives in Roslindale MA with his partner Michael
California with her rescue dog and cat and enjoys
and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who
wine, skiing, and making excuses for not writing.
likes his first drafts enough to eat them.
She’s a member of NorCal, Coastal Cruisers, and
the Guppy Chapters.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 7
Ex-Officio
Library and Bookstore Liaison
Shari Randall Acting Executive Director
Shari is the author of the Lobster Julie Hennrikus
Shack Mystery series and the Julie Hennrikus is the owner of
upcoming Ice Cream Shop Your Ladders, a coaching and
Mysteries from St. Martin’s training resource for artists and
Press. Her debut, Curses, Boiled writers. Julie is a former board
Again, won an Agatha Award member of Sisters in Crime
for Best First Novel. A former and of Sisters in Crime New
librarian, she loves travel, antiques, mermaids, and England. Her career has been
all things New England. She and her husband, a in arts administration, most
retired Coast Guard officer, have two globe-trotting recently as the executive direc-
daughters and live on Connecticut’s shoreline. tor of StageSource, a service organization for the
New England theater community. She is also an
author of several mystery series who credits much
Web Liaison of her success to the connections she made through
Barbara Ross Sisters in Crime.
Barbara is the author of the
Maine Clambake Mysteries inSinC Editor
and the Jane Darrowfield Molly Weston
Mysteries. She is a multiple Molly has served as editor
Agatha Award nominee and has of inSinC for 11 years. She’s
won the Maine Literary Award reviewed and lectured about
for Crime Fiction. Barbara is the mystery genre for nearly 30
a past president of SinC New years. In 2012, she received the
England, and has served as Raven Award from Mystery Writers of America
co-chair of the New England Crime Bake and as for “outstanding achievement in the mystery field
an editor of the Best New England Crime Stories outside the realm of creative writing.” Molly lives
series. In her former life she was chief operating in Garner NC. a
officer of two successful start-ups in educational
technology.
One thing I do to keep me inspired and
Immediate Past President on track for a new novel is a Plot Wall.
Lori Rader-Day I use color-coded sticky notes for each
Lori is the Edgar Award- chapter and scene changes. Then I use
nominated and Anthony and different colored notes or pens for each
Mary Higgins Clark Award- character. This allows me to visually see
winning author of, most the plot lines, as well as any main char-
recently, The Lucky One. She acters that are missing for too long.
lives in Chicago, where she —Linda Kuhlman
co-chairs the mystery confer-
ence Murder and Mayhem in
Chicago. Before writing full time, she was a com-
munications executive in higher education and
health care non-profits for 20+ years.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 8
National Novel Writing Month—
Build Discipline and Learn Craft
by Doreen O’Skea
S
ome writers seek inspiration through long Maureen Walsh — NaNoWriMo
walks, hot showers, or copious research — or seemed like a fun way to force
they rely on bursts of genius. What happens myself beyond the first few chap-
next is a mystery — well, hopefully, since we ters of my novel-in-progress after
are of that genre. But the perfect book idea is just an re-polishing the beginning and
idea until it’s written. The elusive element to getting trying to outline my way through
the book drafted is discipline. a plot.
While many writers are rigorous in their process, What drew you to the challenge of writing a novel in
setting their writing time and protecting it fiercely, a month?
others may fall prey to the temptations of procrasti-
nation, rearranging their desk space, sharpening all Gigi — I had never previously finished any fiction
the pencils even when they write every word on the writing projects (at least not in my adult life — I
computer … wrote a lot of stories and scripts as a kid). I had never
managed to get over my inner editor and reach the
Discipline is mindset and habit. Studies have shown end of a project, because I knew my writing wasn’t
that it takes 21 days to build a new habit. What if good, so I kept feeling I needed to edit as I went. I
there were help to build the habit of being a more was sabotaging myself. I needed something to push
productive writer? me past that spot. I thought if a group of friends who
were as inexperienced at writing as I could rise to the
Enter the National Novel Writing Month
challenge of 50,000 words in a month that I could
NaNoWriMo challenges writers to write 50,000
give it a shot.
words in the 30 days of November, focusing energy
on drafting and away from the internal editor. What Maureen — I knew I wouldn’t end up with a publish-
started in 1999 as an experiment has grown to a able manuscript, but I needed to keep moving for-
movement that engages hundreds of thousands of ward. And I’ve always been motivated by deadlines,
writers in the daily habits needed to craft a novel. never good at working on a project a little at a time.
I connected with two alumnae of NaNoWriMo to What kept you motivated during that time?
get their perspective on the challenge and how it
helped each of them refine their process and sharpen Maureen — It was fun! I love the discovery part of
their skills. writing fiction, finding out who might show up to
take a part, creating situations and interactions, find-
When you first heard of NaNoWriMo what did you ing out a detail I tossed into chapter four could link
think? to a development in chapter thirteen.
Gigi Pandian — I heard about it about 15 years ago Gigi — I had been toying with an idea for a mys-
and became an early adopter. I was unpublished and tery novel for a few years, but I never managed to
eager to learn more about the craft, and it sounded get anywhere with it. I loved the story, though, so I
like a fun challenge. I had no idea if I’d be successful, didn’t want to abandon it. But I was stuck, so I was
but why not? motivated to finish the story and see if I still liked it.
That, and coffee.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 9
Has the experience changed the and it’s why I got involved in my local Sisters in
way you write now? Crime chapter and learned more about the craft of
writing and how to turn my work in progress into
Gigi — Definitely. I completed
a good novel.
my first full draft of the novel
that became Artifact (my first What do you want people to know about after NaNo
published novel) because of ends?
NaNoWriMo. That showed me
I’m most effective by finishing a Gigi — Take time to celebrate! But after that, don’t
draft quickly. That doesn’t mean rush the finished project. There’s a 99% chance
it’s a finished product but I learned the very impor- your book is not ready to be published yet. If you
tant lesson that editing as I go is not for me. I need like what you’ve written, revise the book. If you
to tell the story first, and then go back in and fix it. don’t, you’ve still learned a lot and you can write
something else that will be even better.
Maureen — I have the confidence that if I just
start writing — not thinking or outlining endlessly I do set the draft aside for a chunk of time while
— the story will start to take shape and, at some I work on another project, so I can look at it with
point, I’ll see it coming together. I know I need to fresh eyes before I make revisions. (Depending on
get the words and ideas flowing, watch the story how rough a draft it is, I also might send it to a
progress, and then work on the structure. couple of my critique partners at that stage.)
What advice would you give to someone before they Maureen — There are official
embark on the journey? winners, but no losers. If you
didn’t make your 50,000-word
Maureen — Relax. Think about your goals beyond goal, what did you accomplish?
50,000 words in 30 days. Do you want to draft a What did you like most about
novel from beginning through the middle to an NaNoWriMo that you can make
end? Get in the habit of daily writing? Try a differ- part of your writing habit? What
ent genre or form? Produce a funny family history? was too difficult or discourag-
Once you know the purpose behind your 50K/30, ing? What can you change?
have fun!
Also, you’re going to be tired. You may be thrilled
Gigi — Your words don’t have to be good. But with the messy manuscript you’ve created, but lack
they need to be written. You can fix them later. Use the mental energy to revise so much as a comma.
NaNoWriMo as a free pass to let go of your inner Take time to celebrate and relax, and don’t lose
editor. Track your words on the NaNoWriMo web- that appreciation for what you’ve achieved when
site. It’s validating to see the graph, plus the public you come back to your novel with an editor’s eye.
declaration is helpful, to hold yourself accountable.
Finally, what did you learn about yourself during the
You never know where it will lead, so even if journey?
you’re feeling uncertain, go with it. My first unex-
pected lesson happened when I completed my Gigi — So much! I’ve had 10 novels published
first full novel draft at the end of NaNoWriMo now, and even with external publisher deadlines,
that I submitted it to the Malice Domestic Grant I still use the energy of NaNoWriMo each year to
competition for unpublished traditional mystery draft a new novel. There’s something magical about
writers. I wasn’t expecting to win, but I wanted to it that works as a physiological trick for me.
do something to celebrate my accomplishment. I Writing is hard work, but it’s so rewarding to
was surprised and thrilled when I got the call that reach the end of a novel. That’s the secret of
I won that year’s grant. That’s when told me that NaNoWriMo. No matter how long it takes me
I should take my hobby of writing more seriously,
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 10to fix something later, I’ve put in the work to have
written a full draft, which makes it harder to aban-
don a project. (Though I have abandoned some pro-
jects. It wasn’t wasted effort, because I always learn There are a number of things that make
something, but not all of my experiments are fit for my writing space special for cranking out
publication.) stories, but the most important tool is my
chair. A rather unexciting item, but it has
Even though I think of myself as a plotter, I need to
saved my back and hips as I now spend more
listen to my characters, so NaNoWriMo is a great
time at my desk. I paid a small for-tune
way to let my characters run wild and follow their
for a Herman Miller, and it is worth every
lead. They’re always right.
nickel. Who’d have thought some-thing so
Maureen — As a writer, I learned that I love the
creative rush of flat-out writing without polishing — Linda Shenton Matchett
along the way. I also learned I can’t set aside big
blocks of time to write and assume I’ll make major
progress. Some of my best ideas and writing come
when I’m under pressure.
[Because of NaNoWriMo] I designed a daily writ-
ing sheet that keeps me focused on writing every Aeon Timeline
day and helps me stay on track when my word
count falls short or I miss days. The average daily The Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi
count is 1,666.33 words, which adds up to 5,000
My Mac!
words every three days. Suppose someone starts
NaNoWriMo on November 4th or takes off three Design Works Standard Issue Personal
days over Thanksgiving. They may think those Journal — it lies flat and doesn’t bleed
5,000 words are impossible to make up—but it only with fountain pens
raises the average daily word count by 185 words to
1,851.5. Many writers routinely set a goal of 2,000 Decaf Earl Grey hot tea in a ReDuce ther-
words. mos (blue that matches one of my foun-
tain pens)
While we all continue to shelter in place, sometimes
struggling to make sense of this wild world we find Assorted beautiful mugs
ourselves in, it might do our author souls good to My dog
have a new challenge to remind us why we write and
love the craft. The NaNoWriMo may be the nour-
— Elizabeth Richards
ishment we need right now.
Look for Sisters in Crime programming and tools—
including a webinar with Gigi in October—to get you
ready for NaNoWriMo this year, and help you revise
your draft afterward. a I use ProWriting Aid to help in the edit-
Doreen O’Skea is working on her first novel in ing process. It’s really made me more
Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of Sisters in aware of echoes, redundancies, and
Crime. passive language as I write new material,
too.
— Donna Schlachter
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 11by Kerry Cathers
Elevator Pitches for Authors
“T
ell me about your book.” you as an author. But the
opposite is true. I’ve seen it
Depending on your answer, it can
at networking events, where
be the best or the worst thing an
an entrepreneur drones on
agent or publisher could say to you.
and on about every aspect
Trouble is, coming up with a response isn’t all that of their business. One by one, the crowd loses inter-
easy when you are starting out. How do you con- est and stops listening. Once that happens, the sale
dense your characters, plots, sub-plots, and setting is lost.
into a simple answer? How do you explain that
twist at the end without itemizing everything that The same is true for pitching a book. Brevity is best.
happened? Most important of all: There are a couple of reasons for this. First is infor-
mation overload. We can’t process excesses of infor-
How do you get them interested?
mation in a short span of time, so we stop trying.
Pitches are not easy to write; in some respect, they’re
When bombarded with data, we shut down and
more difficult than writing the novel. And, when
stop listening. Second, we get bored. The reason
asked, many give the wrong response.
commercials are short is so they don’t lose the audi-
Have heart, there are ways to increase your chances ence’s attention.
of success. Part of it is mindset.
You have 75 words (30 seconds) to catch someone’s
Rather than thinking of this as a writing exercise, or interest. At a stretch, you have 110 words (45 sec-
an expression of your art, know it for what it is: It’s onds). If they offer you a minute, that gives you 150
a business pitch, or what is commonly referred to as words. Not many, so make good use of them. You
an elevator pitch. must not exceed your time limit.
As a freelancer, I have given hundreds of pitches (and The main reason people fail with their pitch is they
written quite a few for others). I have been in the don’t understand its role in the selling process.
audience for countless more, listening to ones that
were effective, and surviving those which weren’t. The purpose of the pitch
When asked what the purpose of a pitch is, many
As an aspiring author, you’re no different from any
respond that it’s to get published. (They say the
other entrepreneur: You’re selling your product to
same when asked what the purpose of a query letter
your clientele. It just happens your product is your
is.) That’s wrong. No agent/publisher ever signed an
novel and your client is an agent or publisher. The
principles which make a successful elevator pitch, author on their pitch alone.
make for a good book pitch. If not that, then what?
Where people go wrong A successful pitch gets the agent/publisher inter-
The most common and the most damaging error ested. That’s it. Nothing more. Once they’re inter-
people make is giving too much information. You ested, you’ve moved beyond the pitch into the next
might think you have to tell them everything won-
stage of the selling process which is a completely
derful about your novel in order to get them to sign
different strategy with its own set of rules.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 12If you instigate a conversation, then your pitch has You have to be vicious with your script and strip
worked. Move to step two. away all the irrelevant. This is a bit different from
fiction writing where description is essential (within
Or the next stage might be a request for sample limits). There are a few writing rules that can help:
pages. If so, you’re no longer relying on your pitch,
it’s down to your story. If they don’t, that doesn’t f Remove redundancies (brief moment, or close
mean your pitch is a failure. Anything that keeps proximity).
them talking about your book is a success.
f Use the active voice (“He discovers …” rather
Remember, it’s the writing and the plot that sell than, “He will discover …”).
your book, not your pitch.
f Eliminate adverbs or adjectives unless they are
How to write a successful pitch key plots points. (Red is relevant only if the serial
How do you take an 80,000-word book and turn it killer is targeting people in red cars and your
into a thirty-second commercial? heroine has just bought a red car.)
Don’t think you can do it? Think f Keep the sentences short. This
it’s impossible? Every person I have prevents you from rambling,
written an elevator pitch for has allows you to place emphasis
told me theirs is that unique busi- where needed, and is easier for
ness that cannot be condensed into the listener to understand.
a thirty-second commercial. By f Eliminate negatives “dangerous”
the end of the session, they were rather than, “not safe”). Too many
proven wrong. negatives (nots) and you confuse
the listener.
Still not convinced? The pitch for the film Alien was
(reportedly) three words: Jaws in space. Screenwriter Every word in your pitch has to serve a purpose. If it
Blake Snyder in his book, Save the Cat, insists that, doesn’t, remove it.
if a writer cannot sum up their story in a single What’s next?
sentence, they’ve not thought it through enough. He Believe it or not, writing the pitch is only the begin-
insists the pitch forces you to articulate the core idea ning.
of the story.
Once you have it written you have to practice it. You
Anything more is decoration and, in this instance, need to be familiar with it; you can’t read it off a piece
decoration does more harm than good. of paper or the notes you scribbled on your hand.
How do you do it? If you know it, you can capitalize on unexpected
With a lot of drafts. That might sound facetious, encounters. Meeting an agent doesn’t just happen at
but it’s true. You’re not going to get it on the first the Pitch Sessions and you want to be ready for any
go. As soon as you have the key points of your plot, opportunity that presents itself. Be able to say your
start creating your pitch (and your query and your pitch whenever, wherever anyone asks you.
synopsis). Write down what you think are the key
elements, then set it aside and come back to it later. How you say your pitch is as important as what you say.
At this stage, don’t censor yourself. You want it to sound like a conversation, not like
A pitch is not written to a word count; it’s edited a commercial. You want to sound confident and
down to a word count. professional.
When reviewing your draft, label each item as must A couple of hints from the entrepreneurial world
say, should say, like to say. When that’s done, throw (and the world of public speaking). Nerves make
out everything labelled should or like. you talk faster, which makes you sound less
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 13credible. Practice saying your pitch at a very slow
pace and over pronounce your words. You want to
get accustomed to saying it slowly, so when you
give your pitch, you default yourself into speaking
slowly. Never practice it at normal speed unless you
want to know how long it is. When you combine Dogs fed, emptied, and denied access to
your attempt to speak slowly with the adrenaline windows.
rushing through you, what comes out is a normal
pace of speaking. If you practice it at a conversa- Computer on a lectern or my bed.
tional pace, you will speak too quickly when you At least two cups of tea.
give it and the listener might have difficulty under-
standing you (especially if you speak as quickly as I Paper and pencil.
sometimes do). Television tuned to shows for the
illiterate, like Naked and Afraid, Botched,
We’re still not at the end. As an entrepreneur, I’ve or a Housewives franchise. Amazing
seen people win over a potential customer with bizarre plot details arise. B . . .t the Naked
their pitch, then lose them when they have no fol- Psychopath will someday appear in a hor-
low-up. Think of every question the agent/publisher ror tale.
might ask. Your sub-genre. Your experience. Write until interrupted by husband,
daughter, or dogs. Always urgent and
Your word count. Your target audience. Your answer
demanding instant solution.
to “tell me more.” Your target audience. Anything
you can think of, come up with a response. That Writing every day, but not necessaily
way, you’re never caught off guard, or stumbling for mysteries or other fiction. I will soon be
an answer, or rambling. Or, worst of all, not having writing a class paper on tree communica-
tion.
an answer at all.
If they ask for more — Christine W. Kulikowski
details, keep it short.
You don’t want
them pointing to
their watch telling
you time’s up when
you’re in the middle Repurpose your pitch
of your synopsis. Or, if you meet them in the hall, The principles which make for a good pitch will
boring them with a chapter-by-chapter recitation. help you write an effective query letter — concise,
enticing, and brief. You have a few more words with
Being brief and remaining within the time frame a query letter, but, as with an elevator pitch, if you
makes you look prepared and professional. You don’t get to your point quickly, your audience will
relay to them that you know the procedure, are lose interest.
comfortable with it, and can operate within its
boundaries. You show them a professional who’s Best of luck! a
serious about a career. That builds trust and helps Kerry Cathers is a contract editor and writer who entered
convince them you’ll be easy (and worth their the publishing world as a Production Editor for a univer-
while) to work with, which helps your chances of sity press. Having sat on both sides of the table (hiring
success. editors and being hired) she understands the industry
from both perspectives. She has often been approached
As a final preparation, write a pitch for your fol- by aspiring authors asking the wrong question: where
low-up book, just in case they ask. they can get the best editor.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 14by Shari Randall
G
reetings, fellow book and library lovers. The posts have already started run-
Here’s the latest library news. ning on SinC’s social media sites.
Many thanks to Vanessa Lillie for
her fabulous graphics. Feel free to
share them.
We Love Libraries Special Grants
Many Siblings reached out following the death of These are the themes. If your book — or a SinC
George Floyd. President Lori Rader-Day, We Love sibling’s book — fits the theme, feel free to post.
Libraries Coordinator Susan Hammerman, and I had Remember, we’re only posting books by SinC
a conversation about how SinC could help libraries authors.
in communities affected by the protests. I did some
Ten themes, one per week for summer.
research on the Minneapolis protests and discovered
that East Lake Library, the closest library to Cup Foods, Fatal Fireworks — Dive into crime novels set during
was damaged by fire. A special Doris Ann Norris We summer holidays.
Love Libraries! grant will go to East Lake Library
Chills for Hot Nights — Dive into novels with a
through the Hennepin Library Friends Group.
paranormal element.
For the next few months we will target WLL grants Perfect for a Picnic — These culinary cozy mysteries
to libraries that serve the Black community, includ- come with a side of great recipes.
ing the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore; the
Fulton Library System in Atlanta; and the Louisville Like a Hurricane — Warning: These thrillers come
Free Public Library System. with a mind blowing twist.
Dark Hearts — Too much sunshine got you down?
Everyone into the Pool Promo Posts
Take a break with stories of dangerous deception,
In a reboot of our dearly missed Book Club Central
twisted minds, and psychological suspense.
lists, SinC will have weekly Everyone into the
Pool social media posts. SinC will post a themed From Agatha’s Beach Bag — Puzzling mysteries the
graphic on our social media channels, and every- Queen of Crime would enjoy, all nominated or win-
one with a book that fits the theme can tweet or ners of the Agatha Award.
post their book cover. Share the posts far and wide!
Use these suggested hashtags: #amreading #books Lay Down the Law — These books bring the legal
#summer-reading #crimenovels #SistersInCrime drama.
#beachreads #SinCrecommends #escapewithabook
Summer Fling — The only thing better than
#fiction #libraries along with the appropriate genre
romance is romantic suspense.
hashtags: #suspense #truecrime #romanticsuspense
#cozymystery, etc., to make the posts easy for read- Crime Coast to Coast — Travel to these enticing
ers to find. vacation spots without leaving your couch.
Consider adding the following copy to your post:
Crime Travel — Dive into historical fiction.
When we can’t travel, books are an escape. Stuff your
beach bag with these dangerously good reads from If you have any ideas on how we can connect SinC
Sisters in Crime.
authors and libraries, please let me know. a
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 15by Susan Hammerman
W
hen September rolls around, I feel like I should be heading back to school or
at very least trying to learn something new, and current events make me want
to volunteer. Luckily, I’ve found a way to accomplish both without having to
leave my house. The Zooniverse is an online platform where libraries, univer-
sities, and research institutions from all over the world submit fascinating projects that require an army of volun-
teers to complete. With minimal or no training at all, volunteers can help sort, organize, or identify information or
objects for dozens of research projects.
For example, the Boston Library has an active project to transcribe handwritten letters from anti-slavery activists and
abolitionists. Transcribing the letters will make them searchable by keywords and names. The Criminal Characters
project is also a transcription project, where volunteers transcribe Australian prison records from the 1850s to the
1940s. In other projects, you can hunt for earthquakes by identifying seismic activity, watch burrowing owls, catalog
items from the Manchester Museum, or check out what coyotes get up to in downtown Chicago in the middle of
the night. So, something for everyone!
Coordinating the We Love Libraries grant program has been a bright spot for me during this difficult year.
Starting in June, the focus of WLL shifted to fund underserved libraries. Please encourage libraries that are
located in or support underserved communities to apply for the We Love Libraries award. Find grant details
and the brief grant application on our website. A WLL winner of $1,000 is selected each month. The grants
awarded in May, June, and July went to libraries to provide funds to purchase materials during the pandemic,
to rebuild a library after a devastating fire, and to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the
tragic death of George Floyd in June of this year.
In California
The May award went to the Porterville Public Library, which was almost
entirely destroyed by a fire. Vikki Cervantes, Porterville City Librarian, wrote
in her grant application, “Our beloved Porterville City Library was destroyed
in a tragic fire on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. Sadly, Captain Figueroa and
Firefighter Jones lost their lives battling the blaze. It has been the most devas-
tating fire in the history of our tightly knit community. Our collection of over
70,000 items were totally lost.” The library used the grant money to purchase
English and Spanish materials for virtual story times. The photo of a wood
panel painted with the word, “Read,” that miraculously survived the fire was in
the June inSinC. The library preserved the panel and will put it on display in
the new library building.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 16In Washington
In Texas The July WLL winner was the Scriber Lake High
The Clear Lake High School Library in Houston School Library in Edmonds, Washington. Quoted
was the June winner. The school librarian’s appli- from the application, the $1,000 grant will be
cation states, “We are a community that hits right used to “Purchase books to enhance our library’s
on the financial border line: just affluent enough collec-tion of age-appropriate books by Black,
to get no funding for low-income schools, and just Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) authors
poor enough to really need it. Currently, we are shut as well as non-fiction books to explore topics such as
down for Covid 19.... [and] are scrambling for free systemic racism and social justice.”
resources for our students.”
Pictured at home is School
The $1,000 WLL grant was used to purchase Librarian Rachel Ramey with
e-books and audiobooks. Pictured is School books by SinC members:
Librarian Shirley Dickey with books by SinC Girl, Stolen by April Henry,
members, Sarah Orchards by Holly Thompson,
Zettel Palace of Spies, No Place Like Home by the
Dangerous Deceptions late Mary Higgins Clark,
and Assassin’s Masque; Dividing Eden and Need by
Suzanne Young, The Joelle Charbonneau, and The
Epidemic, The Remedy, Treatment by Suzanne Young. a
and The Complication;
Susan Hammerman lives in Chicago and writes neo-noir
and Holly Thompson,
and crime short stories.
Orchards.
First, as a traditionalist, I depend on my
In Minnesota trusty Thesaurus and Barzun’s Simple &
The East Lake Library Direct.
located in Minneapolis
First, as a traditionalist, I depend on my
was nominated for a
trusty Thesaurus and Barzun’s Simple &
discretionary WLL
Direct.
grant in June by the
SinC national board. More unusual may be my 11” x 14” Sketch
The library staff wrote the We Love Libraries grant Pad (i.e., empty sheets) in which I note
will be used to “Help restore the libraries most ideas, tape things I’ve “noted” elsewhere,
affected by recent unrest in Minneapolis ... [and etc. I use sticky notes to mark the pages
to] fund programs and resources focused on tack- — main characters, secondary ones, the
ling the persistent poverty and inequality facing out-doors, quotes I like — anything that
strikes me that I may want to include.
our black, brown and indigenous friends and
Critical too is the two-page spread that
neighbors.”
I mark as “Timeline” that gets filled in as
things happen and is the closest to an
outline that I ever use.
— Victoria Houston
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 17Learn During Lockdown with Our Online Tools
by Lori Rader-Day
T
he world has gone virtual — but Sisters in Saturday, October 3, 12-4 p.m.
Crime was there first with our live webinar SinC into Great Writing
series and the response has been fantastic. Creating Authentic Characters
Hundreds of viewers continue to turn out for with Lou Berney, K. Tempest Bradford, & Walter
two live webinars each month across four topic areas: Mosley, moderated by Lori Rader-Day
writing craft, the business of writing, marketing/
publicity, and crime/law expertise (forensics, investiga- Wednesday, October 7, 8-9 p.m.
tive techniques, etc.). Slay NaNoWriMo: Two Converts Share Their Secrets
Gigi Pandian and Rachael Herron, moderated by
Our most popular webinar? “Mastering Plot Twists” Michelle Corbier
with Jane K. Cleland. A record 548 attended live,
while 122 viewed the archived recording within a Tuesday, October 20, 7-8:30 p.m.
week of the presentation. As a SinC member, you can 10 Common Mistakes Writers Make About the Law
watch this archived webinar and others on your own with Leslie Budewitz, moderated by
schedule on the SinC website. To suggest webinar Donna Van Braswell
topics and speakers, submit info via our form. Tuesday, November 10 & 17, 3-4:30 p.m.
Don’t have time to watch a full webinar right now? Sell Your Books, Not Your Soul
Check out the SinC-UP! video library on the Sisters with Jaden Terrell, moderated by Sarah Smith
in Crime YouTube channel. Hear great tips from Register for all webinars and virtual learning events
authors, agents, and editors like James Patterson,
at Sisters in Crime under the “Learn” tab.
Paula Munier (Talcott Notch), Hank Phillippi
Ryan, Terri Bischoff (Crooked Lane), and more, all Welcome New Education Team Members!
just a minute or two. Enjoy a new “A Minute with Lane Stone lives in Alexandria,
…” video every week when you subscribe. Virginia and Lewes, Delaware.
Upcoming SinC Webinars She writes the Tiara Investigations
Our last few months of the year offer great webinars Mysteries and the Pet Palace
and special events, including two webinars to sup- Mysteries. When not writing, she
port November as National Novel Writing Month enjoys traveling and volunteering
(NaNoWriMo), as well as our first foray into offer- for good causes, like the Delaware
ing our annual SinC into Great Writing workshop River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation
online for every member to access! All times Eastern. and AAUW. She has a post-graduate
certificate in Antiquities Theft and Art Crime.
Tuesday, September 8, 3-4 p.m.
The Way We Weren’t: Writing Historical Fiction Donna Van Braswell went from being
with Susan Elia MacNeal, interviewed by Lori an Army brat to a rocket scientist,
Rader-Day, moderated by Lane Stone then began writing upon retirement.
She’s lived from Alaska to Turkey and
Tuesday, September 22, 8-9 p.m. travels the world, setting her novels in
Get Ready for NaNoWriMo with Mystery-Making fascinating places. Her debut novel,
with Edwin Hill, Lorraine Sharma Nelson, & Daughter of the Ancients, was released
Carolyn Marie Wilkins, Interactive Webinar in June. She is married and has raised
Presented by the SinC New England Chapter, mod- two amazing children. She lives in
erated by Lisa J. Lieberman, chapter vice president. North Alabama and in Florida. a
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 18by Allison Baxter
W
ho hasn’t lingered on the Writers’
Plateau? We put in hours of writing, you are to writing and
improving craft and content — and how open to feedback
then it seems like we’re stuck. We may people truly are.”
need a boost or a frank conversation to start climbing There are also new
the mountain again. There are numerous ways to opportunities for mem-
improve your writing (and countless articles on the bers of Off Campus
topic) but this article details four strategies with a range Writers Workshop in
of price tags, with words of wisdom from your fellow Winnetka IL. Right
Siblings. So, let’s go back to school in September with now, they are operating remotely through Zoom
critique groups, distance instruction, writing coaches, and helping writers form critique groups during
and professional editors. interactive meetings. Like Guppies, the groups are
autonomous.
1) Critique Groups
When I asked for experience from our Pitch Wars has a forum where writers can get other
membership, overwhelmingly, writers love writers’ help and advice on a range of topics. There
and need their critique groups. is a message board dedicated to people looking to
form critique groups.
Finding other writers might require some
word of mouth. Triss Stein, author of Brooklyn Emilya Naymark, whose short story “Exit Now” will
Legacies, met members of two critique groups appear in the anthology After Midnight: Tales from
through local chapters of Mystery Writers of the Graveyard Shift, found a writing group that she
America and Sisters in Crime. loves through Meetup: “I’m not really sure what
is so magical about this group, but I finished the
MA Monnin, whose short story “Siren Song” manuscript and wrote three short stories that
appears in All That Weird Jazz, believes it went on to publication at these meetings.”
doesn’t matter that the members write in different
genres “because we critique for plot holes, Raquel Reyes, whose short story “A Star
blocking errors, confusion, and grammar Goes Dark” is in Mystery Most Theatrical,
and punctuation.” an upcoming Malice Domestic anthology,
found a group on Crime Writers of Color.
Jen Collins Moore, author of Murder Each member reads a chapter live and
in the Piazza, met her group through receives feedback in round table fashion.
a writing class. She believes that “six
people has proven to be a 2) Remote Learning: Online Classes,
great size for our group...I think Webinars, and Podcasts
the...best thing is to make sure The explosion in remote-learning possi-
you’re aligned with them in terms bilities has been one advantage of being
of how dedicated stuck at home (besides all that time to
write. Many of these are free or low cost
and provide opportunities for questions
and feedback.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 19Online Classes and Webinars words on either a weekly or monthly basis. We can
Off Campus Writers Workshop hosts a weekly live
catch early issues of plotting, repetitive language,
Zoom meeting with speakers on topics from writ-
exposition, character development, etc.”
ing to business to poetry.
Mia Manansala, author of the novel Arsenic and
Story Studio in Chicago has a huge catalog of long
and short courses with a range of prices. Adobo coming in May 2021, trained as a book coach
through The Author Accelerator Program with
SinC Webinar Archives have access to both new Jennie Nash. She says coaches offer account-ability
and previous programs with topics such as writing plus editorial and emotional support for authors
skills, crime and justice, marketing, and the busi- whose goal is publication. The process begins with
ness of writing.
intake forms, following up with phone calls and a
Guppies has inexpensive online classes for members regular submission and editing schedule
on a range of topics. Susan Hammerman, whose
recent short story “Dominant Hand” is part of the 4) Professional Editors
Mondays Are Murder series, found that the amount There are different kinds of editors for different needs
of homework varied but the instructors were and skill levels. Once again, the prices will be higher.
upfront about how much work was expected.
llen Butler, author of Pharaoh’s Forgery, starts with
E
International Writing Program, the non-aca- beta readers for development, then uses an editor
demic counterpart to The University of Iowa Writers’ before she publishes. Her advice? Ask people you
Workshop, has MOOCs (Massive Open Online know. She uses Lucky 13, whose owner she met at
Courses)), free classes that are open to all. Courses have a conference, and pays per word. She also suggests
lessons, video tutorials, and community-based feedback. that you have one person copy edit and a different
Podcasts person proofread.
Tracy Forgie Koppel, a YA writer based in Elena Taylor, author of the novel All We
Chicago, recommends Alone in a Room
Buried, perfects her work using beta read-
with Invisible People and Writing Excuses.
ers, her writing partner, and her mother:
Others include Storygrid, K.M. Weiland, “My mom happens to be the best proof-
and Crime Writers of Color. reader I know,” she said. Elena also edits
for Allegory Editing. To test drive their services, you
3) Writing Coaches
would submit a sample and the editor would offer
Writing coaches are a good way to get organized
you “a clear outline of what each of our three levels of
and stay accountable. Individualized attention
comes at a higher price than critique groups and service would contain and exact pricing based on the
remote learning, but the writers I interviewed felt current word count.”
the investment can be well-justified. If you’ve been on the Writer’s Plateau so long you
Terri Bischoff, Senior Acquisitions Editor at feel like you’re sheltering in place there, take heart.
The boost you need is a link, Zoom call, Bluetooth
Crooked Lane Books, has done freelance coaching
and editing. She explains that “...the writer gets speaker, or email away. a
feedback on a regular basis which can keep them on Allison Baxter lives outside Chicago where she teaches English as a
track and pointed in the right direction. For exam- Second Language and writes The Chicago Neighborhood Crime Series.
ple...I either read and respond to a set amount of
To avoid sending inSinC readers to insecure websites, no links are given
unless their prefix is “https” which indicates a secure site.
inSinC • September 2020 • Page 20You can also read
